August 31st, 2010
Grand Rapids, August 31, 2010: It took months of negotiations but earlier this year President Obama got his healthcare overhaul pushed through congress. Today, a key part of that plan starts for people in Michigan.
Michigan is now set to launch a subsidized insurance pool for individuals who have not been able to receive coverage due to pre-existing health conditions. Some of these conditions include diabetes, kidney failure, certain forms of cancer, among other ailments. Physicians Health Plan, a Michigan-based HMO, will be in charge of the pool which will be funded through subscriber premiums and $141 million in federal grants. This is only a temporary pool that is expected to cover 3,500 individuals until January 1st, 2014 when federal law will require all insurers to cover people no matter their condition.
In order to qualify for the coverage you need proof of US citizenship and Michigan residency, to have been uninsured for at least 6 months with proof that it’s due to health reasons, and a letter from a doctor stating that you suffer from a medical condition that you could be denied coverage for. The coverage should begin in October but you can start signing up as of today.
For more information regarding this or other insurance issues stop by Access Insurance Agency’s office at 2258 28th Street. Also feel free to visit our website (www.accessgr.com) or call (616 245-5555).
Tags: Access Insurance Agency, grand rapids, health insurance, insurance agency, michigan
Posted in General insurance needs | No Comments »
August 24th, 2010
Grand Rapids, August 24, 2010: It was announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the State of Michigan was awarded a $1 million Affordable Care Act grant. This grant will go to improve the oversight of proposed health insurance premium increases and to take action against insurers who are unreasonably raising rates. This will result in consumers receiving maximum value for their premium money.
The office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) will use the grant to increase the agency’s review and analysis of health insurance rate filings to health maintenance organizations and commercial carriers. These areas were not previously included due to budget restraints and limited review authority.
OFIR will be provided with new tools to make sure that the review process is fair. With this in effect Michigan citizens will be guarded from unreasonable rate increases in the future. Applications for the Health Insurance Premium Review Grants became available on June 7th.
For more information regarding this or other insurance issues stop by Access Insurance Agency’s office at 2258 28th Street. Also feel free to visit our website (www.accessgr.com) or call (616 245-5555).
Tags: Access Insurance Agency, grand rapids, health and human services, health insurance, health insurance premium review grant, insurance agency, michigan, OFIR
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
August 17th, 2010
Grand Rapids, August 17, 2010: Summer is coming to a close, and that can mean big changes for families. Whether it be moving a child into college and finding them renters insurance or adding your new 16 year old to a policy. Things are also changing with some insurance companies. Rates have been all over the board recently and could be changing for you. Your insurance policy should change as your life does, and your agent should be there to help with those changes.
Now is a great time to speak with your agent and review your policy. Be sure it fits your lifestyle and has not gone through drastic changes. If you have any questions or need a new policy you can contact Access Insurance Agency at 616 245-5555 or visit our website at www.AccessGR.com. One of our skilled and friendly agents is waiting to help you.
Tags: Access Insurance Agency, Auto insurance, Car Insurance, changing rates, grand rapids, insurance agency, michigan, policy, review
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
August 4th, 2010
Grand Rapids, August 4, 2010: Jack Hoedeman left the 28th Street and Breton location of Access Insurance Agencies on Friday like any other day, locking up and shutting lights off. However, when he returned on Monday the office was not how he left it. He entered to discover drawers and the safe rummaged through as well as the back door open. After checking the office Hoedeman found that the only thing taken was a disc out of the CD player. The thieves were looking for cash and new music and luckily only one of the two was present.
Hoedeman has filed a report with the Grand Rapids Police Department; unfortunately there are no current leads to the criminal’s identities. If you have any information regarding this break in please contact the GRPD.
Tags: access insurance, Access Insurance Agency, Auto insurance, break in, Car Insurance, crime, grand rapids, grand rapids police department, Home owners insurance, insurance agency, michigan
Posted in Auto insurance, General insurance needs, Homeowner insurance, Local agency | No Comments »
July 20th, 2010
Grand Rapids, July 7, 2010: Access Insurance Agencies 28th Street location continues to grow as it recently hired on a new employee. The new addition is Jill Gurdak. She has been brought on to the team as a Customer Advocate with extensive insurance experience and is already hard at work.
Gurdak originally hails from Pennsylvania and has previously worked at Foremost/Farmers Specialty Lines in the policy processing department for four and a half years. Access is proud to have her in office to handle customer needs by writing new business and handling quotes.
When asked what she was most excited about in her new position Gurdak replied, “I’m looking forward to getting to know my new co-workers and helping serve the insurance needs of individuals in the community.” Gurdak can be reached at the 28th Street and Breton location of Access Insurance Agencies. To find out more about Access or to receive a free quote, please visit www.accessgr.com or call 616 245-5555.
Tags: access insurance, Access Insurance Agency, Auto insurance, Car Insurance, grand rapids, Home owners insurance, insurance agency, michigan
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
July 13th, 2010
Grand Rapids, July 13, 2010: The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the Granholm Administration exceeded its authority by banning the use of credit scoring by insurance companies in the state. This decision means that insurers in Michigan can continue to use credit scoring when calculating auto and home insurance premium discounts. However, it cannot be used to determine whether a person can be insured by the company or to apply a surcharge.
This ruling drops Michigan from the short list of states that prohibit the use of credit scoring. Only four states(California, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Maryland) currently ban its use. Many insurance companies are pleased with the decision and feel that their customers should be as well. Since there is a proven correlation between insurance scores and the likelihood of filing insurance claims companies can use this information to give their customers lower premiums. For more information or if you have questions regarding how it will affect your policy please visit www.accessgr.com or call 616 245-5555.
Tags: Access Insurance Agency, Auto insurance, Car Insurance, credit scores, grand rapids, insurance agency, michigan
Posted in Auto insurance, General insurance needs, Local agency | No Comments »
July 12th, 2010
Grand Rapids, July 9, 2010: most of Michigan’s oldest & most prestigious law firms renew in August. The popular August renewal date is due to an old Michigan requirement that all lawyers’ professional liability policies renew on August 19. An integral part of professional liability coverage is the prior acts or retro date, this is the date which you have maintained uninterrupted coverage. This coverage is carried from policy year to policy year as long as there is no lapse in coverage resulting in many firm’s keeping the August renewal date. You take this date with you when or if you change carriers, moving your policy does not mean you lose your prior acts date.
Why is prior acts coverage so important and what would happen if you lost it? All professional liability policies are ‘claims made’ as opposed to ‘occurrence based’. With a claim made policy the date you are notified of the claim & not the date the act occurred determine coverage. Your prior acts date on your current policy must be prior to the date the act occurred and your current policy must be active the date you are notified of claim or potential claim. You will lose your prior acts date if you have a gap in coverage, all the premiums you have paid over the years will have been wasted.
Access Insurance Agencies is there to cover you. To find out more and to receive a free quote visit www.mylegalmalpractice.com
Tags: commercial liability, e & o insurance, errors and omissions insurance, grand rapids, lawyer malpractice insurance, liability insurance, malpractice insurance, mi
Posted in General insurance needs, Local agency | No Comments »
June 29th, 2010
Grand Rapids, June 29 2010: Access Insurance Agencies recently partnered with a group of amazing people to co-host an event in order to support Bing Goei and his campaign for State Representative. Bing’s Mingle is a fundraising event unlike any other. It will focus on social networking with a community advocacy and technology twist. The event will take place July 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 inside Mixology and Jdek at the J.W. Marriott in Grand Rapids, MI. A $5 donation is required for entry.
Tags: Access Insurance Agency, Auto insurance, bing, bing's mingle, Car Insurance, grand rapids, Home owners insurance, insurance agency, michigan, social networking
Posted in Auto insurance, General insurance needs, Homeowner insurance, Local agency | No Comments »
June 25th, 2010
Without knowing what would soon happen, a customer cancelled her rental insurance policy with Access Insurance Agencies claiming it wasn’t worth the money. Shortly after, her Camelot apartment building caught fire. The flames came into her apartment and destroyed all her possessions.
Thinking her policy was over the customer was devastated. However, Jack Hoedeman of Access Insurance Agencies dug into her file and found coverage was still in force. He called the client informing her that she could file a claim. She will be provided up o $15,000 to replace her belongings and up to $6000 for additional living expenses until she finds a new place to live. Without this the customer would have been left with nothing. She was quoted thanking Jack and calling him a “super agent.”
Tags: Access Insurance Agency, Auto insurance, Car Insurance, grand rapids, Home owners insurance, insurance agency, michigan
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
June 15th, 2010
Throughout 2010 Access Insurance Agencies has noticed State Farm Insurance drastically increasing its customers deductibles and premiums. Some policies have raised premiums upwards of $1,000. Recently State Farm clients have stated
“They raised my deductible to $4000 without asking me.”
Access Insurance Agencies was able to lower this deductible to a mere $500 and still save them $100’s of dollars. Access advises others to check into their policies and looks forward to lowering more customer’s rates.
Tags: Access Insurance Agency, Auto insurance, Car Insurance, grand rapids, Home owners insurance, Insurance, insurance agency, michigan
Posted in General insurance needs | No Comments »
